Paper-filing device.



'G. B. LONGWELL. PAPER FILING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. e, 1913.

Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

CHARLES IB. LONGWELL, 0F LOGANSIPORT, INDIANA.

PAPER-FILING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1913.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

Serial No. 752,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. LONG- WELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Filing Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and i use the same.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in paper filing devices and more especially for use as a loose-leaf filing device.

It has for its object to provide a filing device which will punch single or a number of sheets of paper, cards and printed forms or other manuscript and bind the same securely but loosely together.

It further has for its object to provide a filing device which will allow the sheets of paper, or other material to be reversed so that both sides can be utilized and in which it is possible to remove the top sheet without removing or disturbing the other sheets.

It further has for its object to provide a filing device in which the sheets of material are punched, bound together in one operation securely in position and at the same time are capable of being easily and quickly moved or turned over when desired, especially by stenographers and other rapid writers.

It further has for its object to provide a filing device in which the filing member and punch can be adjusted and held in various positions.

It still further hasfor its object to provide a filing device which is simple, inexpensive and durable in construction, easy to manipulate and very attractive in appearance.

Among the advantages of this invention are its adaptation to any loose-leaf system, for use by individuals, firms, corporations, banks, societies, lodges and others, where individual sheets, cards are desired to be used or in combination with others.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention ready for use. Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view on the line wm of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 a bottom plan view partly broken away. Fig. 1 a detail perspective view of the pivoted member of the filing device. Fig. 5 a cross'section on line g y of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 a detailsectional view of the spring member of the filing device. Fig. 7 a detail view of one of the slidable plates. Fig. 8 a detail showing a modified arrangement of the slidable plates to adjust the tension of the bow-shaped spring.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference denote like parts throughout the several views; 1 represents the base plate of the filing device having rear and front 'inturned flanges 2 and 3 respectively on its underside. The rear flange is provided with recesses i and the front flange with elongated recesses 5.

slidable plates 6 are provided, at each end of the base plate, which are mounted in the flanges 2 and 3 each of said plates having one of its corners cut out as at 7 and having a diagonal slanting edge 8 terminating in a V-shaped notch 9. A hole 10 is provided through each of the slidable plates 6 which is designed to register with holes 11 in the base plate,-and 12 is a paper fastener, or other device, which is passed through said holes 10 and 11 and through the base board or back 13 of the filing device and then clenched to hold the same securely in place.

14; is the pivoted punching and binding member of the filing device mounted in the upper flange 2 and which comprises, a mid dle portion 15 provided with a number of square faces 16, and arched portions 17 which pass through the recesses 4 in the rear flange 2 and each being provided with an enlarged end 18, cut at an angle as at 19, and forming punches, which operate in connection with the holes 21 in the base plate, to punch holes in the loose-leaves, or other material, simultaneously with the binding of the same, said punches abutting against the upper surface of the front flange 3.

A bow-shaped spring 22 mounted in and between the flanges 2 and 3 and is pro vided at its middle portion with a flat face 23 which is adapted to engage the square faces of the middle portion 15 of the pivoted punching and binding member and thereby holds said punching and binding member in various positions. The end portions of the bow-shaped spring member 22 are also flattened as at 23 and bear against the diagonally slanting lower edges 8 of the slidable plates 6 and the extreme ends 2% are seated in the V-shaped notches of said plates 6.

The tension of the bow-shaped spring 22 can be regulated by the adjustment of the slidable plate 6, more particularly as shown in the modified form in Fig. 7 in which the slidable plates are provided with a series of holes 25.

To insert the leaves in the filing device the arched portions 17 are pulled upward until the punches 20 are released from the holes 21 in the base plate the leaves are then placed in the proper position under said punches, the arched portions are then pulled downward'a'nd the punches punch holes in the leaves, the punched out pieces of paper falling through the elongated recesses 5, and at the same time bind them on the arches, when the device is ready for use.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of constructions and arrange ment in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a filing device, a base plate provided with holes, a pivoted binding and punching member designed to engage said holes and means for holding said pivoted binding and punching member in various positions, substantially as described.

2. In a filing device, a base plate provided with holes, a binding and punching member pivoted to said base plate and designed to engage said holes, a spring for holding said binding and punching member in various positions and means for adjusting the said spring slidable in the base plate, sub stantially as described.

3. In a filing device, a base plate provided with holes and; rear and front flanges, a binding and punching member pivoted in the rear flange and adapted to engage said holes in the base plate, spring means for holding the binding and punching member in various positions, and means for adjust ing the tension of said spring means, substantially as described.

4. In a filing device, a base plate provided with holes and rear and front flanges, a binding and punching member with intermediate square faces and pivoted in the rear flange and passing through recesses therein, and adapted to engage the holes in the base plates, a spring mounted between the flanges of the base plate having a flat face adapted to engage the square faces of the binding and punching members, slidable plates mounted between said flanges and provided with notches in which the ends of the said spring are held at one of the limits of adjustment, substantially as described.

5. In a filing device, a base plate having holes, a binding and punching member pivoted to said base plate and adapted to engage said holes, a spring bearing against said binding and punching member and designed to hold it in various positions and slidable plates provided with inclined edges against which the spring presses and notches in which the ends of the spring are held at one of the limits of adjustment, substantially as described. 7

(3. In a filing device, a base plate having holes, a pivoted binding and punching member with enlarged ends, cut off at an angle, and adapted to engage said holes, a spring for holding said binding and punching member in various positions, plates slidable in said base plate, with which the spring engages, for adjusting the tension of said spring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. LONGWVELL. lVitnesses ELIZABETH HoMBURG,

GEO. IV. lVAL'rERs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

